第一、词汇学习

1 permanent：adj. 永久的

He's been temping for over a year now and wants a permanent job.

他做临时工作已一年多了，想找个固定的工作。

2 appearance：u.n. 相貌，面貌

Fine clothes added to his strikingly handsome appearance.

华丽的服装使他那极其英俊的外貌更为增色。

3 expression：c.n. 表情

“I don't understand,” he said, with an expression of complete surprise(on his face.

“我不明白。”他说时脸上显出惊讶的神色。

第二、短语学习

1. train somebody in something：训练某人做某事

He was trained in engineering.

他受过工程学方面的培训。

2. be suitable for：适合于......

Do you think this present is suitable for a little boy?

你认为把这件礼物送给一个小男孩合适吗？

3. accompany someone to somewhere：陪伴某人到某处

I must ask you to accompany me to the police station.

我得要求你陪我去一趟警察分局。

4. tell somebody about somebody：告诉某人关于某人的事情

Is there anything special you want to tell me about Julia?

关于朱莉娅，你有什么特别的话要跟我说吗？

5. on either side：在每一边

There is a path on either side of the road.

路的两边各有一条小道。

6. fall down：倒塌

The house was so old that it was decaying and about to fall down.

那所房子太旧，已经朽了，不久就要倒塌。

7. as though：好像，仿佛

He rubbed his eyes and yawned as though waking up after a long sleep.

他又揉眼睛又打哈欠，好像睡了一大觉刚醒似的。

8. die of：死于

Nowadays many people die of cancer.

现在有很多人死于癌症。

第三、其他短语

1. undertaking business：棺材生意

2. collect dead bodies：收尸

3. support a house：支撑住房子

第四、语法点拨

1. Oliver"s permanent expression of sadness was very suitable, the undertaker thought, for collecting dead bodies from houses and accompanying the coffins to funerals.

解析：换线部分是插入语。

2. One day Mr Bumble came to tell them about a woman who had died in an extremely poor part of the town,

解析：划线部分是由指代人而且在从句从句中做主语的关系代词who限定性定语从句修饰woman。
3. They went down dirty narrow streets where the houses on either side were tall and large...

解析：划线部分为由关系副词where引导的定语从句修饰在定语从句中地点状语的先行词streets。